The Cubs magic number is 27
2016 MLB Regular Season - It's an Even Year...
- Thread starter tomalak301
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Magic numbers in August are stupid. Almost every team in the league could make a count. Couple others would be brutal, but I don't think anyone is even mathematically eliminated yet. I mean, if the Twins win every remaining game (38), Cleveland doesn't win more than another 14, and no one else wins more than 21, they still finish in 1st. To get into a wild card spot, it's even a lower bar.
Magic numbers are more interesting when they are single digits. I guess it's nice to know that you can control your own destiny to the point of winning just over half of your games and unless your opponents go CRAZY, you're good. Just good for being able to rest key players down the stretch. Not sure how many remaining games are against the Cardinals, though; that magic number could get ugly fast if they lose some to the birds and the numbers flip 2 at a time...
Magic numbers are more interesting when they are single digits. I guess it's nice to know that you can control your own destiny to the point of winning just over half of your games and unless your opponents go CRAZY, you're good. Just good for being able to rest key players down the stretch. Not sure how many remaining games are against the Cardinals, though; that magic number could get ugly fast if they lose some to the birds and the numbers flip 2 at a time...
The Cubs have the biggest lead over a second place team. A magic number that low is very meaningful.
Only 6 more games against the Cards (3 home/3 away).
Only 6 more games against the Cards (3 home/3 away).
I'm starting to get worried about the Cubs, though. The strength all season has been the pitching, but Arrieta is clearly running out of gas again, Hammel has turned into a pumpkin once again (there are some rumors flying around that he has a drinking problem, but I'm choosing to take that with a grain of salt for the moment), Lackey's hurt, I'm not sure Montgomery can pull a rabbit out of his hat again, and while Hendricks has been lights-out, I'm not at all convinced that he can maintain his soft contact rate -- at some point he's going to fall back to Earth (Edit: I mean, Arrieta's amazing season last year was because he adjusted his mechanics to induce as many groundballs with his slider as he did with his sinker, and his release is clearly off this season -- while Maddon has been pretty cautious with Hendricks' use, at some point the guy is going to hit a pretty hard diminishing wall of returns). Lester's the one solid rock in the rotation right now and that's scary in a short playoff series.
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Arfrieta's been out of gas since the ASG. He had one decent game two starts ago, but even then his slider wasn't working.
If it's not arm troubles, it's mechanics. It would be a hell of a fast league-wide adjustment to him otherwise.
Hammel had one bad game, in Colorado, which gets every pitcher once or twice.
Hopefully they're just being cautious with Lackey, but he hasn't been that good when he's been good.
If it's not arm troubles, it's mechanics. It would be a hell of a fast league-wide adjustment to him otherwise.
Hammel had one bad game, in Colorado, which gets every pitcher once or twice.
Hopefully they're just being cautious with Lackey, but he hasn't been that good when he's been good.
Both Hammel and Arrieta have been getting bailed out by the Cubs' defense, which by some metrics is the best in the league. But to say that Hammel had one bad game is a bit incorrect; his pitch placement has been all over the place (and him attributing his improvements last month to eating more potato chips is just 
as hell) and his fastball has become completely flat. You're not going to blow guys away at 89 or 90 unless you throw a 60mph changeup like Jamie Moyer. Basically, Jason Hammel went back to being ... well, Jason Hammel. As he did last year.
With Arrieta, I'm pretty sure the league has caught up to him; while Bosio worked with him on increasing his slider usage and mechanics last year, which led to his balls-out season, he's barely throwing changeups or fastballs and with the location problems he's had since late May, it isn't exactly difficult to scout him. I said, I think in the last thread, that the Cubs would be insane to give 7/250 to a guy who randomly put it all together at the age of 29, and I'm increasingly happier by the start that the front office didn't give it to him.
as hell) and his fastball has become completely flat. You're not going to blow guys away at 89 or 90 unless you throw a 60mph changeup like Jamie Moyer. Basically, Jason Hammel went back to being ... well, Jason Hammel. As he did last year.With Arrieta, I'm pretty sure the league has caught up to him; while Bosio worked with him on increasing his slider usage and mechanics last year, which led to his balls-out season, he's barely throwing changeups or fastballs and with the location problems he's had since late May, it isn't exactly difficult to scout him. I said, I think in the last thread, that the Cubs would be insane to give 7/250 to a guy who randomly put it all together at the age of 29, and I'm increasingly happier by the start that the front office didn't give it to him.
"Guaranteed Rate Field". Could the Whitesox have possibly picked a DUMBER name for a ballpark? 
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The stadium itself, yes. The name, no (it's Oakland Coliseum again).
Sanchez continues to impress. I think "holy cow" is in order here.
BA / OBP / SLG / OPS
.377 / .427 / .797 / 1.224
9 HR's and 5 doubles in 18 games. Throws out 70+ % of would be base stealers. Probably had the best throw to second I've seen all year last night, but didn't get the out because Tanaka isn't the best at holding runners. MLB player of the week last week.
I know, I know.... small sample size, but this kid has come to play. Nothing seem difficult for him as I watch him.
Oh, and the young Yankees took the series IN Seattle.
BA / OBP / SLG / OPS
.377 / .427 / .797 / 1.224
9 HR's and 5 doubles in 18 games. Throws out 70+ % of would be base stealers. Probably had the best throw to second I've seen all year last night, but didn't get the out because Tanaka isn't the best at holding runners. MLB player of the week last week.
I know, I know.... small sample size, but this kid has come to play. Nothing seem difficult for him as I watch him.
Oh, and the young Yankees took the series IN Seattle.
Definitely a great start, but yeah, small sample size is the issue. 70% caught stealing rate for example. True test, anyway, is how he does after the pitchers adjust to him the first time. Some adjust back and are good, others go into the tank for a while, depends. Easier when no one has a book on you and you're not having to press.
True. What I like about this kid is he hits everything out. No just the fastball.
"Guaranteed Rate Field". Could the Whitesox have possibly picked a DUMBER name for a ballpark?
Hey, if the company writes out a big enough check, you take it...
"Doc Johnson's Field"
I don't think they have that kind of money, but it would be funny to watch anyone looking the name up on Google.
I don't think they have that kind of money, but it would be funny to watch anyone looking the name up on Google.
Oh, don't mistake my meaning, I understand big naming rights deals like this.
It's still a stupid name, though.
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Is it spring training yet?
Oakland baseball is hard to watch.
Oakland baseball is hard to watch.
The closest he's going to get to holding a world series trophy.
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